Effect of the initial synaptic state on the probability to induce LTP and LTD (Migliore et al. 2015)

NEURON mod files from the paper: M. Migliore, et al. (2015).
In this paper, we investigate the possibility that the experimental protocols on synaptic plasticity may result in different consequences (e.g., LTD instead of LTP), according to the initial conditions of the stimulated synapses, and can generate confusing results. Using biophysical models of synaptic plasticity and hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, we study how, why, and to what extent EPSPs observed at the soma after induction of LTP/LTD reflects the actual (local) synaptic state. The model and the results suggest a physiologically plausible explanation of why LTD induction is experimentally difficult, and they offer experimentally testable predictions on the stimulation protocols that may be more effective.
Reference: 1 .
Migliore M, De Simone G, Migliore R (2015) Effect of the initial synaptic state on the probability to induce long-term potentiation and depression. Biophys J108:1038-46 [PubMed]